The Taste of Innocence

Chapter 14

Chermaine's Point Of View.

He's doing it again.

I don't even know why but..

I started to close my eyes as he brought his face closer to mine.

"Kuya Ruru!" napadilat ako at unti unting nilayo ni Ruru yung mukha niya sa'kin.

He just smiled and asked me to go back to the shore. I nodded, but to be honest, I don't want to. I wanted him to kiss me, and this time, I swear that I'll kiss him back.

Ano bang mayron sayo Rwuoell Pancho?

Bakit parang ang dali mo akong kunin?

Ngayon lang nangyari sa'kin ang lahat ng 'to. Yung sa festival, ang matulog sa maliit pero komportableng bahay, ang pumunta sa beach.

Yes, I've got enough money to splurge on fancy resorts like this without a problem. But honestly, I've never been near the sea before. I have never taken swimming lessons because I am truly afraid of the ocean. We only visited a beach resort when I was a child due to my father's family business. But ever since then, I have been terrified to go anywhere near the ocean.

But then, nang mga oras na lumayo si Ruru sa'kin para pumunta sa mas malalim. May nagtutulak sa'kin na ayokong mapalayo sa'kanya.

Gusto ko siyang malapit lang sa'kin, gusto kong makasama siya. Kaya kahit takot na takot ako habang umaapak sa palalim na tubig. Ginawa ko pa rin.

I must be losing it, huh? Like, why am I even considering risking it all for him? Mukhang kailangan ko na ngang magpa check up sa isang psychiatrist doctor.

Feeling ko, wala na ako sa sarili ko dahil sa'kanya. Gusto ba talaga siya? O, baka iniisip ko lang 'yon dahil sa mga nasabing affirmations ko noon sa kanya?

Noong una, nag stay ako sa bahay nila dahil na trigger niya ako. I just wanted to show him that I could live a more laid-back life and not be so high-maintenance. It bothered me that he saw me as some kind of a snobby, wealthy brat.

But now, hindi ko alam pero parang mas nagugustuhan ko yung buhay nila. Hindi rin pala masama maging mahirap, as long as may kasama ka maghirap at umasenso. Better than being wealthy enough, dahil sarili ko lang ang maaasahan ko, hindi ako pwedeng humingi nang tulong sa iba. Na kung gusto kong umangat, I should all do it by myself.

Kaya iba yung saya ko ngayon compared sa nakasanayan ko. Busy kaming lahat sa buhay. My dad doesn't even come home or bother to check on me. He just knows that his daughter is a lawyer, and my brother also manages our company from abroad. We don't even get to talk like we used to when I was a kid.

Kaya kahit kaya kong bilhin ang lahat ng mga mamahalin at magagandang bagay sa mundo, hindi ko naman kayang bilhin ang tunay na kaligayan galing mismo sa mga taong gaya nila.

"Let's go Serille, mag rent tayo ng boat para sa snorkeling and makapag starfish viewing." aya ko kay Serille.

Tumakbo kami papunta sa boat renting. Habang nagdi-discuss sila ng offer ay sumulpot si Ruru. Tumingin ako sa'kanya at ngumiti lang siya sa'kin.

Sana ganoon na lang siya palagi. Sana maging mabait na talaga siya sa'kin.

"Sige po, bale island hopping, fish feeding, snorkeling, clamps and starfish viewing po lahat? We'll take your offer Mister." sagot ko sa'kanya sabay hila sa kamay nila Ruru at Serille.

"Teka, hindi ba sasama sina tita at tito?" tanong ko pa.

Umiling si Serille. "Magbabantay at magluluto pa raw sila eh."